Looking back on last year’s trade deadline: Winners and Losers

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesJarome Iginla was one of the biggest names on the move at last year’s trade deadline, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Calgary Flames for two forward prospects and a first-round pick that turned into Morgan Klimchuk of the WHL’s Regina Pats.

Almost immediately after the annual NHL trade deadline passes, fans start declaring the winners and losers of the many deals that went down. In reality, judgment shouldn’t be passed until at least a year later.

With that said, the 2013 trade deadline, and the week leading up to it, saw a total of 27 deals involving 38 pro players, 10 prospects and 32 draft picks. Now, with a year’s worth of evaluation and the help of hindsight, we can take a closer look at the real winners and losers.

ANALYSIS: For the Penguins, Brenden Morrow put up a solid 14 points in 15 games in the regular season and then fizzled out in the playoffs with 4 points in 14 games as the Pens were swept in the Eastern Conference final by the Bruins. Morrow signed with the St. Louis Blues in the summer. The Penguins drafted centre Jake Guentzel out of the USHL with the 3rd-round pick, 77th overall. Guentzel has put up 27 points in 31 NCAA games this year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

For the Stars, Joe Morrow was a top-end defensive prospect that never played a game for them, finishing out the season in the AHL before being traded away to Boston that summer as part of the package for Tyler Seguin. With the 5th-round pick, Dallas drafted left-winger Matej Paulovic, a Slovakian playing in the Sweden junior system who has split this past season between the OHL and USHL with limited offensive success.

VERDICT: In the end, it was a draw. Brenden Morrow was great during the regular season and the Penguins got the better long-term prospect in Guentzel. However, the Stars pulling off a later trade to land Seguin in a multi-player deal with Joe Morrow heading the other way as a key prospect levels things out as Seguin has been lights-out for the Stars.

Douglas Murray

March 25, 2013: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Douglas Murray from the San Jose Sharks for a 2013 2nd-round draft pick (traded) and a conditional 2014 2nd-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS: For the Penguins, Douglas Murray was a solid D-man for the rest of the season and the playoffs as a rental, before leaving Pittsburgh to sign with the Montreal Canadiens in the summer. Like mentioned earlier, the Pens didn’t make it out of the East.

The Sharks used the 2013 2nd-rounder to move up from 20th to 18th in the first round in a trade with the Red Wings and selected WHL defenceman Mirco Mueller (Everett Silvertips), a solid up-and-comer from Switzerland with good size at 6-foot-4 and putting up about a point every second game over his WHL career. The Conditional 2nd rounder is also owned by the Sharks, as the Penguins got through 2 rounds of the playoffs.

ANALYSIS/ VERDICT: Iginla blocked a deal to the Bruins and then signed with them for the following season. Let’s face it, the Flames won this deal because they got something back for Iginla instead of losing him for nothing via free agency. He did play solid for the Penguins, with 11 points in 13 regular-season games and 12 points in 15 playoff games, and is also currently having a solid campaign with the Bruins.

A look at the prospects coming back to the Flames has forward Kenny Agostino keeping up a point-a-game pace playing NCAA with Yale. He should be a future NHLer, even if it’s more of a role player. Right-winger Ben Hanowski played 5 games lasts year with the Flames and tallied a goal. He is at about a point every second game pace in his first full AHL season and should fill a role with the Flames in the future. The most potential came out of the 1st-round pick, as left-winger Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats is one of the best snipers in the WHL. After putting up 76 points with 36 goals in 72 games last season, Klimchuk is on pace for similar numbers this season. Needless to say, the hometown (Calgary) kid could be a future star performer for the Flames if he keeps developing.

ANALYSIS: Leopold is still playing with the Blues after re-signing for 2 years and has been battling injuries this season but has been a serviceable D-man when healthy.

The Sabres drafted right-winger Justin Bailey of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers with the 52nd pick in the 2nd round, and U.S. high school defenceman Anthony Florentino with the 143rd pick in the 5th round. So far this season, Bailey leads the Rangers in points (43) and goals (25) through 54 games and continues to show signs of improvement. Florentino is playing his freshmen year at Providence College and appears to have adjusted well to the NCAA game.

VERDICT: In the long-term, this could be a huge win for the Sabres. Right now, it’s looking pretty even.

Michal Handzus

April 1, 2013: The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks for a 2013 4th-round draft pick (traded).

ANALYSIS: Handzus provided a solid veteran lower-line option at centre for the Blackhawks during the playoffs on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. Handzus had 11 points in 23 post-season games after also putting up 6 points in the final 11 games of the regular season. He’s still on the Hawks this year, and although his offensive production has dipped to about half of last year, Handzus has still shown to be a good lower-line option.

The well travelled 4th rounder that was San Jose’s to start ended up getting dealt back to the Blackhawks with a 5th rounder in 2014, while the Sharks got a 4th rounder and a 5th rounder in 2013. The Blackhawks used the 111th overall pick to select Swedish defender Robin Norell, a long-term prospect who plays with Djurgardens in the Swedish league. The Sharks used the 4th rounder, 117th overall, on Swedish goaltender Fredrik Bergvik, and the 5th rounder, 151st overall, on American defenceman Gage Ausmus. Bergvik is another long-term prospect still playing junior hockey in Sweden. Ausmus is playing NCAA at the University of North Dakota and, according to his hockeysfuture.com profile, is a defensive D-man with some grit and a good first pass.

VERDICT: Time will tell how the prospects pan out, but it looks like the Hawks won this deal since they won the Cup and still have Handzus.

Robyn Regehr

April 1, 2013: The Los Angeles Kings acquired Robyn Regehr from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2014 2nd-round draft pick and a 2015 2nd-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS/VERDICT: Regehr has always been an elite NHL defender and although he doesn’t put up a lot of points, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound rearguard is not easy to play against. With the way the Kings have shut down teams this year, I believe Regehr has been a big part of it, and 10 points in 62 games this season isn’t bad for him. He also played in 18 playoff games last year for the Kings and 12 regular-season games. Without either of these picks being used, the Kings have won the deal so far, but it was the right deal to do for a rebuilding Sabres team and a pair of 2nd-round picks is good value that could have them fleecing the Kings in the long run.

ANALYSIS: Jay Bouwmeester has been a star player with the Blues this season and was even good enough to make Canada’s Olympic team that brought home gold. He is one of the game’s best at logging shutdown minutes, and with his offence back at about a point every second game since he’s been with the Blues, he’s been more productive in that aspect than his lower offensive numbers in 4 seasons in Calgary. The Flames didn’t get bad value back. Cundari had 3 points in 4 games to close out last season, but has been stuck in the AHL this year putting up less impressive numbers. With Kipper retiring, Berra has been an alright addition, splitting the goaltending load with Karri Ramo. Poirier has put up 80 points on 42 goals and 38 assists to lead the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques in every offensive category. He’s also shown a bit of a mean steak with 123 minutes in the sin bin.

VERDICT: If Poirier continues to develop, the Flames may win this deal. At this point, the Blues still hold the edge.

ANALYSIS: Bergeron played 13 games with the Hurricanes and had 4 assists from the back end. He’s now in Switzerland putting up decent offensive numbers there. Adam Hall was put on waivers by the Lightning and claimed by the Flyers, where he is still filling a depth forward role. Tampa bay drafted Swiss right-winger Joel Vermin in the 7th round, 186th overall. The 22-year-old Vermin put up 35 points in 47 games for Bern in the NLA last season, but has taken a big step back to 18 points in 47 games this season. He had 4 goals and 5 points in 6 world-junior games in 2012.

VERDICT: Vermin is a better prospect than his 7th-round draft position and the only player either team has the rights to anymore, so I give the Lightning the win in this deal.

ANALYSIS: Derek Roy wasn’t the second/third-line centre the Canucks hoped he would be when they traded for him. He only put up 6 points in 12 regular-season games and one assist in the 4 playoff games he played. Roy signed with St. Louis last summer and has fit in well there, with 36 points in 57 games for the Blues this season. Defenceman Kevin Connauton has played in 26 games with the Stars this season and should have a bright future on their back end — no pun intended. The Stars also picked up QMJHL goaltender Philippe Desrosiers with the 2nd rounder, 54th overall. He’s the starting netminder for the Rimouski Oceanic, who has put up solid numbers in the crease and even set the QMJHL’s shutout streak record this season.

VERDICT: Looks like the Stars won this one, but it might have been a different story if the Canucks could have retained Roy as an unrestricted free agent.

ANALYSIS: Jagr helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final and has been a solid performer for the New Jersey Devils this season after leaving the Bruins in the off-season. He had 11 points in 9 regular-season games with the Bruins plus 10 assists in 22 playoff games. Jagr leads the Devils in points this season with 50 in 60 games and would be a guy lots of teams would like to have for the playoff push if the Devils decide to be sellers at this year’s deadline. MacDermid has played 21 NHL games, but is more likely a career AHLer with the occasional call-up. Payne is a 20-year-old from Florida who’s playing in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit and has put up over 20 goals the past 2 seasons, but doesn’t appear to be a top-end prospect by any means. The 1st rounder ended up being Jason Dickinson, selected 29th overall, a centre for the OHL’s Guelph Storm who had 47 points in 62 games last season, but has smashed those numbers with 71 in 62 games this season — 5th in points on a very strong Storm squad. He has definite offensive upside, but time will tell.

VERDICT: If the Bruins won the Cup, I would give them the win, but since they didn’t, the Stars hold a small advantage with a couple decent prospects to show for this deal.

ANALYSIS: Drewiske is a decent Dman and put up 3 points in 9 games for the Canadiens last season. He’s been on the IR all season with a shoulder injury after signing a 2-year deal with Montreal in the summer, and was just recently assigned to the AHL for a conditioning stint. The Kings used the 5th rounder (146th overall) to pick goaltender Patrik Bartosak who played well for the Czech Republic at the 2013 world juniors and is having a solid season with the Red Deer Rebels.

VERDICT: For now, this one looks to be a draw as a decent goaltending prospect is worth an average NHL defender, especially one who’s been injured for most of his time with the team.

Ryane Clowe

April 2, 2013: The New York Rangers acquired Ryane Clowe from the San Jose Sharks for a 2013 2nd-round draft pick (Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau), 2013 3rd-round draft pick (traded) and a conditional 2014 2nd round draft pick.

ANALYSIS: Ryan Clowe put up 8 points in 12 games to finish out the regular season with the Rangers, then only played 2 games in the playoffs with an assist before suffering a head injury. He signed a 5-year deal with the Devils in the off-season and had put up 14 points in 28 games before suffering another head injury that has kept him out for most of the season so far. The Sharks used the 2nd-round pick on left-winger Gabryel Paquin- Boudreau of the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar, who after putting up 63 points in 67 games prior to the draft has had a poor offensive campaign with only 29 points in 61 games so far this season. The 3rd rounder was later traded to Phoenix for Raffi Torres. Phoenix drafted centre Yan-Pavel Laplante of the QMJHL’s PEI Rockets. Conditions weren’t met on the additional 2nd rounder, so it will instead be a 5th rounder in 2014.

VERDICT: Basically the Sharks got Raffi Torres, Gabryel Paquin-Bourque and a 2014 5th Rounder for 14 games of Ryane Clowe. The Sharks definitely won this one.

Raffi Torres

April 3, 2013: The San Jose Sharks acquired Raffi Torres from the Phoenix Coyotes for a 2013 3rd-round draft pick (Yan-Pavel Laplante).

ANALYSIS: Raffi Torres had 6 points in the final 11 regular-season games and 1 goal in 5 playoff games last season and was decent for the Sharks despite the 6-game playoff suspension. Torres signed a 3-year deal with the Sharks in the off-season and had 2 goals in his only game this season, but has been out since with a right knee injury. He recently returned to the lineup and has continued to chip in offensively. Phoenix drafted centre Yan-Pavel Laplante of the QMJHL’s PEI Rockets with the 3rd rounder, 62nd overall, and he’s put up 38 points in 56 games between the renamed Charlottetown Islanders and the Victoriaville Tigres this season.

VERDICT: Looks like the Sharks are winning this deal even though Torres has been hurt or suspended for lengthy stretches.

Scott Hannan

April 3, 2013: The San Jose Sharks acquired Scott Hannan from the Nashville Predators for a conditional 2013 6th-round draft pick (Tommy Veilleux).

ANALYSIS: Hannan played 4 regular-season games and 11 playoff games with the Sharks last season, getting 4 assists in the playoffs. This season, he has played in 40 games and put up 12 points after re-signing to a one-year deal with the Sharks. Nashville used the 6th rounder, 171st overall, to pick QMJHL left-winger Tommy Veilleux of the Victoriaville Tigres who has only 5 points in 10 games this season after 28 in 66 last year. Veilleux also racked up 129 penalty minutes, showing a bit of a mean streak with 9 regular-season fights and one playoff scrap last year. Assumedly, he’s been injured most of this season.

VERDICT: I look at this deal as another win for the Sharks for now.

Jussi Jokinen

April 3, 2013: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Jussi Jokinen from the Carolina Hurricanes for a conditional 2013 7th-round draft pick. Carolina retained some of Jokinen’s salary and cap hit in this trade.

ANALYSIS/VERDICT: Pittsburgh without a doubt won this deal, as Jokinen has found new life in a Penguins uniform with 11 points in 10 regular-season games last year before 3 assists in 8 playoff games, then 43 points in 59 games so far this season. Not bad for a guy who Carolina is paying part of his salary to play for their conference rivals. Jokinen’s 5 points in 6 games for Finland to help them win a bronze medal at the Olympics isn’t too shabby, either. I am pretty sure the rest of the league’s general managers are envious of this brilliant Ray Shero deal, especially since none of the conditions were met for Carolina to get any picks or compensation. Carolina GM Jim Rutherford pulled a Mike Milbury type deal on this one. Just plain foolish.

ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay’s 6-foot-7 netminder Ben Bishop has been Vezina calibre so far this season and looks to be their long-term solution in goal after playing decent in 9 games with the Lightning last season. It was quite a shock he didn’t crack Team USA for the Olympics over Detroit’s Jimmy Howard. Cory Conacher has been just OK, with 20 points in 58 games after 5 in 12 regular-season games and 3 goals in 8 playoff games last season. The 4th rounder, 102nd overall, was used on Swedish right-winger Tobias Lindberg, a long-term project who split time between the Djurgarden junior and Swedish Elite League teams this season, with no points in 3 games for the big club.

VERDICT: Looks to be a steal for Tampa Bay.

Steve Mason

April 3, 2013: The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Michael Leighton and a 2015 3rd-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS: Steve Mason has held down the starting job in Philly over Ray Emery and is regaining some of the form he had in a breakout rookie season with the Blue Jackets. He was great in his 7 games with the Flyers last season following the trade, posting a 1.90 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. After getting a 1-year deal in the summer, Mason has since signed a 3-year extension with the Flyers in January. Leighton, on the other hand, didn’t see a game in net at all for the Blue Jackets and is now in the KHL with Donbass HC, sporting a 1.81 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 40 games. We might see him back in the NHL next year as a backup.

VERDICT: The 2015 3rd rounder better turn out good, because Columbus didn’t do very good in this deal, definitely losing it. But in the long run, the Blue Jackets might have had the last laugh as getting Sergei Bobrovsky — last year’s Vezina winner — from the Flyers for some picks allowed them to get rid of Mason, and why not send him back to the team you fleeced in the first place.

Marian Gaborik

April 3, 2013: The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Marian Gaborik and prospects Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett from the New York Rangers for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a 2014 6th-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS: Marian “Band-Aid” Gaborik is one of the game’s elite offensive players when he’s not hurt. Since the trade, he has played 32 games total with the Blue Jackets — 12 last year, putting up 8 points, and 20 this year with 13 points. Steven Delisle is a tough 6-foot-6 shutdown Dman but has little offensive upside with 1 assist in 31 AHL games this season. Dman Blake Parlett has spent the season in the AHL and was traded to the Bruins before the Olympic break for a decent AHL scorer in Carter Camper.

Derick Brassard had quite the playoffs last year with 12 points in 12 games and 11 points in the final 13 regular-season games after the trade. He’s got 36 points in 60 games so far this season, actually making him more productive than Gaborik since the deal. Derek Dorsett is the ultimate super-pest and both myself and Larry Fisher can attest to having played minor hockey against the Kindersley, Sask., product. Even at 6-foot-nothing and 192 pounds, he is also tough as nails from many years of roughhousing with his older brothers. Dorsett does get injured a decent amount with his rough style of play and didn’t suit up until the playoffs last year with the Rangers when he tallied an assist and 28 penalty minutes in 11 games. This season, Dorsett has played 38 games and racked up 105 penalty minutes to go with 5 points despite some missing significant time with a broken leg. Dman John Moore has been solid on the Rangers’ back end this season, producing 10 points in 59 games.

VERDICT: At first, most looked at this trade as a steal for the Blue Jackets, but so far it has been a steal for the Rangers.

ANALYSIS: Pominville has been good for the Wild since coming over, getting 9 points in the final 10 regular-season games before getting a concussion that saw him get no points in 2 playoff games. He signed a 5-year extension with the Wild in the summer and this season has put up 41 points in 62 games. Goaltender Matt Hackett played limited amounts in Minnesota before being dealt and has been starting in the AHL for the Sabres since the deal. Right-winger Johan Larsson has only tallied one assist in 21 games with the Sabres this season, but he’s got 33 points in 33 AHL games in Rochester, and at only 21 years old, the Swede should become a solid NHLer over time. The Sabres used the 1st rounder, 16th overall, on Russian defenceman Nikita Zadorov who, at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, is an intimidating presence in the OHL with the London Knights. He was a big part of Russia’s bronze-medal team at this year’s world juniors with 4 goals and 5 points in 7 games. He also has 28 points in 30 OHL games to go with a goal in 7 games with the Sabres to start this season. The 2014 pick could be a good one also.

VERDICT: The Wild might have won the short-term deal, but long-term I think this deal will be a steal for the Sabres.

ANALYSIS: Comeau had 5 points in 9 games to finish last season with the Blue Jackets. He has 11 points in 44 games so far this season after re-signing with Columbus in the off-season and has been a solid role player for the team. The Flames drafted WHL defenceman Eric Roy with the 5th rounder, 135th overall. Roy wears an ‘A’ for the Brandon Wheat Kings and has good size at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds, to go with 34 points in 55 games this season. He has lots of offensive skill with 131 points in 190 career WHL games over 3-plus seasons.

VERDICT: This deal is fairly even for now, but could be a steal for the Flames in the long run.

ANALYSIS: O’Byrne had 2 points in 8 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs before playing 6 games in the playoffs with no points. He was OK for the Leafs but not good enough to stick around and is now playing for Prague Lev in the KHL.

VERDICT: It really doesn’t matter who the 2014 4th rounder ends up being, the Leafs are likely to lose this deal as a 6th rounder is all they should have had to give up to acquire O’Byrne.

Wade Redden

April 3, 2013: The Boston Bruins acquired Wade Redden from the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 2014 7th-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS/VERDICT: Huge win for the Bruins as Redden was a solid performer for them before getting hurt on their run to the Stanley Cup Final. He had 2 points in the final 6 regular-season games and 2 points in 5 playoff games. It was great to see a guy like this get back in the NHL after having his contract buried in the minors for a few years, allowing him to crack the 1,000 career NHL regular-season game mark before recently announcing his retirement after being unable to secure a contract for this season. The Bruins ended up giving up nothing as the conditions weren’t met for the draft pick.

Matthew Lombardi

April 3, 2013: The Anaheim Ducks acquired Matthew Lombardi from the Phoenix Coyotes for Brandon McMillan.

ANALYSIS: Lombardi played games for the Ducks with no points, and is now over in Switzerland racking up 39 points in 43 games playing for Geneve Servette. McMillan, a 23-year-old left-winger, played the rest of last season and most of this one in the AHL, and has suited up for only 2 games with the Coyotes this season with no points.

VERDICT: I still see this as a win for Phoenix, as Lombardi really didn’t pan out in Anaheim.

Steve Sullivan

April 3, 2013: The New Jersey Devils acquired Steve Sullivan from the Phoenix Coyotes for a 2014 7th-round draft pick.

ANALYSIS/VERDICT: Devils win this one, as a 2014 7th-round pick for a decent rental player is always a win. Sullivan had 5 points in 9 games to finish out his career a New Jersey Devil. It was a productive career with 747 points in 1,011 regular-season games for the Devils, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Predators, Penguins and Coyotes.

Jeff Deslauriers

April 3, 2013: The Minnesota Wild acquired Jeff Deslauriers from the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

ANALYSIS/VERDICT: This was a very minor deal, and Deslauriers is now playing net for the Penguins’ farm team.

Martin Erat

April 3, 2013: The Washington Capitals acquired Martin Erat and Michael Latta from the Nashville Predators for prospect Filip Forsberg.

ANALYSIS: Right-winger Martin Erat had 3 points in 9 regular-season games and none in 4 playoff games last season with the Capitals. This year, Erat has 23 points in 52 games with only 1 goal, and has wanted out of Washington for a while. Latta, a 22-year-old centre, has 4 points in 17 games with the Capitals and 24 in 31 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. As much as most feel this was a steal for the Predators in landing the 19-year-old Forsberg, it’s not decisive yet. He had 1 assist in 5 games last season and has 5 points in 12 games this season, to go with 18 points in 28 AHL games — not a huge variance from Latta’s numbers. Latta is 3 years older, however, and it is yet to be seen what Erat could net the Capitals if anything.

VERDICT: So far, it looks to be a small edge for the Predators, but time will tell.

Jesse Gill

Jesse Gill is a former radio broadcaster and colour commentator who dreamed of anchoring TSN, but has since changed careers and now calls Medicine Hat, Alta., home. His passion for hockey has remained strong, as a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan who also enjoys the junior ranks and the rougher side of the sport. Follow him on Twitter: @JesseGill3.